The Explore Issue

Photography By | Last Updated September 18, 2018
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korean side dishes
Popular housemade Korean side dishes at Gang Nam Restaurant on Beach Blvd.

The day we stop exploring is the day we commit ourselves to live in a stagnant world, devoid of curiosity, empty of dreams.
– Neil DeGrasse Tyson

It should come as no surprise to anyone that our daily lives tend toward repetition, with schedules and routines determining our activities on a regular basis. Putting order to quotidian living can seem less than exciting. Special occasions and events occasionally take place to shake up the status quo, and if we are lucky, we are able to carve out a week or two of vacation time for excursions to visit other locales and cultures.

But, what about all the other days and weeks we go about our usual pursuits? How do we purposely set out to learn or try something new? One way to add an element of adventure and discovery is to seek local opportunities for culinary exploration, especially at restaurants and markets representing the foodways of other countries. Since eating is part of our daily rituals, food can be used to gain an understanding of cultures beyond our borders. Fortunately for us, Northeast Florida boasts a variety of international cuisines to provide a taste of the globe without venturing too far from home.

This issue explores some of the international flavors to be found as you navigate through your daily routes. Speaking of routes, read about the range of cuisines on one 10-mile strip of Beach Boulevard. With over 50 different locally-owned eateries and markets offering dishes and ingredients from around the world, you will find some delicious hidden gems. Learn about the history of the area’s Filipino population, the largest in Florida, and the group of chefs helping to highlight the culinary impact of their heritage. Want to explore what it takes to get coffee beans into local cups? Travel along (vicariously) on a coffee tasting trip to Ethiopia. When you have time for a quick excursion, head to Persimmon Hollow (aka DeLand) and experience a day chockful of food, nature and community. I promise you won’t come home hungry. You'll also find ideas for adventures right in your own backyard, with recipes for campfire tacos, tips on foraging for wild edibles and more.

We hope you enjoy reading about the ways to explore a taste of the globe here in Northeast Florida. When you venture out on your own dining expeditions, let us know what you’re sampling. Be sure to tag us @edibleneflorida and share your culinary discoveries. Bon voyage and bon appétit.

Lauren TitusEditor

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STORIES & RECIPES FROM THE EXPLORE ISSUE

On the Trail of Coffee Beans

Ethiopian Hut
This is how Bold Bean Coffee's adventures in Ethiopia translate to better coffee here at home in Northeast Florida.
|869 Stockton Street, Jacksonville, FL, us
|(904) 855-1181
|2400 3rd Street South, Jacksonville Beach, FL, us
|1905 HENDRICKS AVEnue, jacksonville, FL, us

Chef Waylon River's Miso Glazed Eggplant

Miso Glazed Eggplant at Congee recipe
Serve with Congaree and Penn Purple Rice Congee, grilled cabbage, benne seeds and seared scallions for a flavorful, Asian-inspired vegetarian dinner.

What's in Season

Here's a list of local food you'll find in season throughout the year in Northeast Florida.

Off the Eaten Path: DeLand

Plan a trip to DeLand, where you can find eateries and activities to satisfy everyone in your group.

Chef's Round Table: Global Flavors

Chefs Roundtable participants for the Explore International Issue
Local chefs. Real talk. Serving up the scoop on global flavors in Northeast Florida.

Five Ways to Eat Okra

Okra with spices
An ingredient found in cuisines around the world, okra has become associated with Southern cooking. Good news for fans, it is also easy to grow in Northeast Florida.

Bharwan Bhindi (Indian Spiced Okra)

indian spiced okra
Serve as an appetizer or over rice as an entree.

Filipino Chefs in Northeast Florida

Jax Filipino Chef
Jax Filipino chefs are on a mission to tell the world why Filipino cuisine is #MoreThanLumpia.

10 Traditional Filipino Dishes

pork sisig on a sizzling plate with rice
A helpful guide to some common dishes you might find on menus at Filipino restaurants.

Foraging for Wild Edibles in Northeast Florida

Short on greens for your dinner salad? Try heading out on a hunt for wild edibles.

How to Cultivate Native Edibles

Wild, Native, Edible plants in Florida
Want to add a handful of native, edible plants to your garden? We can help.

Campfire Tacos

Making Campfire Tacos
You may be on an adventure miles away from civilization but that doesn’t mean dinner can’t be a gourmet meal. The trick is in the prep, according to Chef John of Osprey Tacos, who grew up in...

Fire Roasted Pepper Melt

Fire Roasted Pepper melt campfire tacos
Serve these tacos with avocadoes and Oaxaca cheese, a white, semi-hard cheese from Mexico.

Triggerfish Tacos with Grilled Peach Salsa

Campfire fish tacos with peaches
If peaches are not in season, substitute pineapple or mango in the salsa.

Grilled Chicken Tacos

Grilled Campfire Chicken Tacos
Top with charred garlic chives and sweet corn black bean salsa for a flavorful campside dinner.

Double Fig Danish

Double Fig Danishes on White plate
Did you know the fruit we call "fig" is technically a syconium? A fleshy hollow receptacle that develops into a multiple fruit, this bulbous shape contains many small flowers only visible when you cut...

Florida Rum, Madagascar Flavor

Vanilla Bean in hands
Travel the world, and bring back beans. Vanilla beans to St. Augustine, that is. And then, infuse some rum.

Growing Roselle Hibiscus

Roselle Hibiscus
Sometimes called the "Florida Cranberry," this local edible calyx packs a punch.

Beach Boulevard: 10 Miles of International Eats

ramen bowl at Karai Ramen
Take your taste buds on a global adventure without boarding a plane.
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